KHON KAEN, THAILAND – Thai immigration officers arrested a Chinese man at a remote ritual site in Khon Kaen, where he had sought a sacred tattoo he believed would protect him from arrest.
Tip from China triggered the manhunt
Investigators from the Thai immigration police tracked down the suspect after receiving a tip-off from Chinese authorities. He was wanted over allegations of investment fraud totaling more than 500 million baht.
According to the investigators, the man, identified only as Shang, had fled to Thailand to evade legal action in his home country. The information from China prompted Immigration Division 4 to launch a targeted search.
Escape to Isaan and an unusual plan
Officers eventually located Shang in Khon Kaen and obtained indications that he had arranged an appointment at a ritual site. Police said the location lay deep in the forest along the Shi River, on the border between Khon Kaen and Maha Sarakham provinces.
The site was described as a secluded area used for rituals, far from populated zones. It was there that Shang intended to receive a sacred tattoo he believed would shield him from arrest.
Arrest at the forest ritual ground
Operational units followed the suspect into the area and found him waiting at the site to have the tattoo applied. He was detained without reported incident as officers moved in on the forest location.
The man admitted to officers that he was the person named in the arrest warrant. He explained that he had sought the tattoo in the belief it could help him avoid being taken into custody.
331 days overstay – additional charges
Further checks revealed that Shang had overstayed his visa by 331 days, remaining in the country illegally for almost a year. This led to separate legal proceedings in addition to the fraud allegations from China.
He was taken to Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station, where procedures related to the overstay were initiated. Authorities stated that deportation to China was expected to follow once those steps were completed.
‘Turn Back Crimes’ policy of the Royal Thai Police
The commander of Immigration Division 4, Pairat Pookcharoen, said officers would continue to actively track down foreign suspects hiding in Thailand. He noted that these efforts formed part of the Royal Thai Police policy known as Turn Back Crimes.
The initiative focused on identifying and removing wanted foreign nationals from the country. It aimed to ensure that Thailand did not become a safe haven for fugitives.
Series of similar cases involving Chinese suspects
In recent months, several Chinese nationals had been arrested in Thailand while allegedly trying to escape prosecution. Among them was a suspect detained in January who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.
In December of the previous year, another Chinese man was arrested in Phuket. According to reports, he had gone into hiding after a deadly flooding incident at a gold mine operation in China.